The Maine Blue team scored the final 4 goals of the 17*3 minute "game"
to defeat the White (and so with the final 2 goals avoided a practice
shootout).  About 14 skaters participated in the scoring.
 
Blair Allison and Greg Hirsch were spectacular in goal;  they shared the
duties with Blair Marsh and Javier Gorriti.  (Only 3 goalies are
expected to practice with the team this year;  Jeff Nordell, Maine's 5th
goalie candidate did not participate, perhaps already cut by gametime?).
 
   Maine goaltending will be good, but probably not great this year.
 
On whole, the defensive corps looks strong.  Look for Chris Imes (0-0),
Dave MacIsaac (1-0), Jeff Tory (0-1), Jason Mansoff (0-0) and Leo Wlasow
(0-0) to get the bulk of the ice time.  I didn't notice Jason Dekker
(1-1) but maybe that means he quietly did his job well :-) Don't expect
Jeff Libby (0-0) and Jacque Rodrigue (0-0) to see a lot of ice time, nor
to see Brian White (0-0) at all (but then that was what I said about
Garth Snow in his first season at Maine :-)).
 
   Coach Shawn Walsh knows defense, and this group, barring injury,
   could be as deep and as versatile as we've seen at Maine.  Teams
   expecting the Maine defense to trail the play will be surprised.
   It's very early, but already, the centers look fairly comfortable and
   competent at defense.
 
   There were no Hockey East Pre-Season Defensive All-Stars on the ice
   tonight, but former All-American, former All-Hockey East, former
   regular shift Olympian defenseman Chris Imes was.  He is world-class.
   Imes didn't score, but he has remarkably *improved* from his 1992-93
   season with Maine.  Just a pleasure to watch.
 
Up front, the stars of the show were Scott Parmentier (2-1) and Shawn
Wansborough (0-2).  Parmentier is fast and a hustler ...  reminds me of
a New Brunswick native that went on to play a little for Maine and win a
Hobey Baker.  Wansborough has great size and stick handling ability.
 
Returnees scoring were Barry Clukey (2-0), Dan Shermerhorn (0-1), Tony
Frenette (1-0), Tim Lovell (0-1), Marcel Pineau (1-0), Trevor Roenick
(0-2), Brad Purdie (1-1), John St.Pierre (1-0).  Dan Marcotte (0-1)
might have (sorry) also scored.  Other forwards include Reg Cardinal,
Tony Tempestilli, Marcus Gustafsson, Wayne Conlan, Paul Zinchenko, Jamie
Thompson, Adam Panzera and Brad Mahoney.  Cory Thibodeau has left the
team.
 
   Even though 10 goals were scored tonight, I think the defensive corps
   will be strong and the forwards will have trouble scoring.  One or
   two LINES of veterans are going to have to step forward and show a
   finishing touch in order for Maine to make it to Providence.  Clukey,
   Frenette and Purdie look improved over last season, but will that be
   enough?  (No, unless another group can find a way to play hard and
   under control at the same time and all of the time).
 
   Last year I picked Frenette to star (sorry for the jinx, Tony).  This
   year it's Scott Parmentier.  Frenette will be a force this year, but
   I don't think it will take Scott a year to do equally as well.
 
Maine special teams (penalty-kill/power-play) will be interesting this
year.  I expect each to be improved over last year, partly because of
the experienced defense but partly because the forwards are so
interchangeable.  Last year it appeared at times that the stars would get
worn-out from lots of special team play.  Depth may be better this year.
I especially liked the power-play with Tory at the point and MacIsaac in
front of the crease.
 
But this was just an intra-squad scrimmage.  There was not the intensity
of a normal game from either the players nor the approximately 2,000
fans.  The penalties were for the most part interference, holding,
interference, tripping, interference ...  you get the picture.  One
notable exception were DQs for Clukey and St.Pierre (fighting)!  What is
this, the IHL?  :-)
 
Coach Walsh is expected to make final cuts and name those that will
dress in a day or two.  Maine heads out Wednesday morning about 7am and
arrives in AK at 11pm ...  to play Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
Fairbanks and return immediately after the Saturday game on the
"red-eye".  Ugh!
 
Maine's next 3 games, all HE and on the road, *may* tell us whether
Maine can vie for the top echelon of the league this year (games are at
NU, BU, UNH).
 
Wayne (ecstatic the season is finally underway) Smith
The College Hockey Discussion List administrator
Systems Group - CAPS              BITNET/CREN:  wts@maine
University of Maine System        internet:     [log in to unmask]
 
P.S. Maybe someone else will enter the Maine roster (please)?  :-)